Orix Buffaloes Tomoya Mori catcher pitcher baseball The first time I saw the game, I thought it would be a good idea to have a little more than one game. The first time I went to the beach, I was in the middle of the ocean, and I was in the middle of the ocean. I'm only going to aim for straight pitches," he declared.

This annual off-season event is hosted by his personal trainer, who is also a former classmate at Osaka Toin High School. This third time, alumni from the school gathered. They reminisced, but the presence of the right-handed pitcher who, together with his battery, led to consecutive spring and summer Koshien in 2012, is special. This season, due to injuries including a hamstring injury, he played in just 50 games, his lowest total in his third year since transferring. He finished with a career-worst performance of just one Home Run and 14 RBI, but next season, in which he hopes to make a comeback, will also mark a fresh start for his senior, a year older than him who returned to Japanese baseball this season. Both players vowed to do their best, with Fujinami acknowledging, "I'm simply looking forward to it. I'm happy to have alumni players with me, and I'm determined to do my best again."

They have faced off twice before. This hasn't happened since Seibu Lions 's Mori hit doble Hanshin Tigers 's Fujinami in an interleague game in 2012. "We're both playing for different teams, so I'm looking forward to playing against each other," said Mori. The two will recapture the "symbol" of a powerhouse that leads the baseball world. (Ando Osamu)

During his time with Seibu Lions, Mori faced Fujinami twice in interleague games against Hanshin Tigers Tigers. In 2018, he drew Walk, and in 2022, he hit doble the right field line. At the 2015 All-Star Game, he was struck out by a fly ball that hit the ceiling of the Tokyo Dome.